DIY Shampoo: with castile soap and baking soda

It's been a while since I've posted and I thought I'd do a quick DIY for those of you who are interested in going a bit more natural with your products! I've joined the ranks of those who are going "No 'Poo" or "Sorta 'Poo" (for example, here and here and here), and haven't used commercial shampoo in almost a year. Do read those blogs for great info on why, how and what to expect when ditching shampoo!

I've tried a lot of variations, and this is the recipe I am currently using. It takes a little getting used to, and your hair may feel "crunchy" or dry when you get out of the shower. Depending on your hair's natural state, you can use a little coconut oil on the ends, a leave-in natural brand conditioner, or do a rinse in the shower of 1 T. apple cider vinegar to 1 c. water (best done in a spray bottle). Also, I rarely measure when I make it for myself, so definitely use these proportions as a jumping off point.

This recipe is quite thin or runny. Though I haven't tested it yet, I added 1 tsp. xantham gum (inspired by the recipe found here) to my next batch and will update after I next shampoo!

DIY Shampoo

1/3 c castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner's)
1/3-2/3 c water (depending on how soapy you want it, I tend toward the lower end)
2 t. baking soda
1tsp. coconut oil, melted
5-15 drops essential oil, if desired


In an old shampoo bottle combine baking soda and castile soap, shaking to combine.

 Then add the rest of the ingredients and shake.

Voila, you have homemade shampoo!

finished product in use!

All Purpose Kitchen & Beyond Cleaner

This is one of my favorite DIY projects for everyday use around the house. It has transformed the way I clean and makes me feel so good when I wipe down the countertops. I'll admit it, I'm not the best about cleaning. Okay, so I'm actually not at all that good at regular household maintenance, but using my own products adds a certain pride that makes finishing up the kitchen after (ahem) 3 loads of hand-washed dishes seem a bit sunnier.

Plus there are good reasons to make your own cleaners! All natural, vinegar-based with the power of citrus oils and naturally antibacterial means it's safe for your pets, children and your food. I never worry if a spray goes awry and a tiny bit lands on my fresh strawberries. And you can customize the scent, which is super fun.

the players

All Purpose Kitchen & Beyond Cleaner
adapted from Big Box Detox and Just Like My Nan Made 

1 tsp. baking soda
~1/3 c. citrus infused vinegar*
1 tsp. vegetable-based dish soap (I like Dr. Brommer's castile soap)
2-4 c. water, depending on the size of your spray bottle
several drops of essential oils (optional: I like tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon, sweet orange, grapefruit or lavender)

*There are countless methods out there, see my Pinterest page for recipes- and for the record, I haven't yet in 4 months drained my vinegar, I just keep adding vinegar to the jar after taking out what I need for a recipe. I also use a variety of lemons, oranges and grapefruit.

To the spray bottle add your baking soda, dish soap and 2 c. of the water and give it a good shake. Slowly add the vinegar, no big deal if you lose some due to erupting baking soda volcano reactions. Fill the rest of the way up with more water and add a few drops of essential oils if you like. That's it!

I keep this out by the sink, with a small rag for cleaning off the countertops. Change out the rag every few days, and feel good knowing you are cleaning your house with something marvelously green!

DIY Bleach Alternative

Every since I started canning in the summer of 2010, I've been on a mission to learn how to do as many things as I can myself in my kitchen and home. Here's the Evolution of my Home for you:

Canning --> Artisan Bread --> Pantry Revamp (all jars!) --> Natural Sourdough --> Yogurt/Buttermilk/Creme Fraiche/Butter --> Homemade Extracts --> Laundry Detergent --> All Purpose Cleaning Solutions --> Fermentation (Kombucha and Sauerkraut) --> Lotions, Lip Balms, Salves, and Creams --> Ricotta/Pot Cheese --> No 'Poo --> Sprouting --> Experimenting with Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking/Baking

my pantry, as it stands today

Future possible domestic projects include hard cheeses, chickens (If I get a backyard someday), pressure canning, experimenting with raw milk, figuring out non-dairy yogurt and water kefir (both were FAILS for me, sadly),  and who knows? The evolution that came after my first canning project (old school corn relish, thanks to my husband Dylan for giving me the idea that started it all!) has been exciting and surprisingly easy; each new skill uncovering other new skills, tempting me to 'give it a try'. And voila! Most of them were successes in one way or another, all opened my eyes to new ways of interacting with my home.

mung beans ready to sprout

So here's an easy place to start, a recipe for a bleach alternative. I found the base recipe here and reduced it to fit in my squirt bottle. It works well, though it doesn't have that satisfying "bleachy" smell that we're used to with all our chemical-laden products :). Once you get over that, it's nice knowing you are using a product to disinfect that won't hurt any small creatures you may have running around your house!

I wrote this before adding more lemon juice

DIY Bleach Alternative
I modified this from the original recipe, found at Crafty Little Gnome


1/4 c. hydrogen peroxide
3 T. lemon juice
3 c. water

Combine in a spray bottle and there you have it: natural bleach alternative!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Thanks to Pinterest, it seems that everyone is making their own laundry detergent these days. And well they should! It's economical, easy, and makes me feel like a bad-ass domestic goddess when doing the thankless chore I loathe most: laundry. 

I first started making my own detergent just over a year ago, when I saw an article in lifehacker and then on Hipster Housewife detailing the process. It looked so easy and I had just begun to get inspired to switch out my cleaning products with homemade, natural solutions, inspired mainly by Bonzai Aphrodite and her household transformations.

I just ran out of detergent a few weeks ago (just! after almost a year and a quarter of my previous >$2 batch) so I thought I'd chronicle the process for the new blog. I followed Hipster Housewife's recipe to a T, only adding essential oil at the end (a generous dose of eucalyptus and lavender this time, last time was tea tree). Here's what it looks like:

cast of characters: washing soda, fels naptha soap, borax (not pictured: essential oils)

grate 1/3 of the fels naptha bar

melt your soap flakes with 6 cups hot water. when dissolved add 1/2 c. each borax and washing soda.

add mixture to 26 c. hot water in your 5 gallon bucket. add essential oils to smell (it will smell quite a bit more pungent  as you're mixing), stir.

Now you let this whole mix sit over night, covered and in the morning it will have gelled. Use your immersion blender or a whisk to incorporate all the elements and you are set! Lasts forever, doesn't leave a scent on your clothing and it's the first step towards a chemical-free home. Enjoy!